Pinch Harmonics

I finally got around to writing a lesson, and I figured it make it on something a lot of people ask me about. If you listen carefully to some songs, you'll notice every now and then, a really loud screeching, squealing sort of sound. If you've ever wondered how to pull that off, then pinch harmonics is your answer. Note that I haven't completely mastered the technique yet, and I'm still working on different ways of producing pinch harmonics, but I'll share some things that I've learned, that have made the process easier for me. Also note, that I'm left handed, and some of the techniques I find easy, may be hard for you, and vice versa.
Before we start off, it'll be essential for you to have some knowledge of harmonics, and you should defintely be able to produce natural harmonics, since that's pretty much a beginner's skill. Pinching falls more under the amateur level of playing. If you have no idea what a natural harmonic is, you can PM or I'm me and I can help you. Moving on, here's what you'll need.
- A Guitar. Humbucks will make things a lot easier, but SC pups will do too.
- An Amplifier .
- Distortion (you can also use amplifier distortion, but make sure you have plenty of gain, so as to make it easier).
- A Pick .
First step is to find a strong natural harmonic somewhere between the fretboard and the bridge. You can start by fretting the 2nd string at the 12th fret (b on standard tuning), picking it, and lightly touching the string at various points with your right-hand index. Once you hear a loud resonating sound, you've found a good point. There are several ways that I've discovered to pull of pinch harmonics. But first we're gonna have to start off slowly, so that you get the basic idea. Holding your pick directly above the point you found the harmonic, pick the string, and then lightly bring the side of your thumb down onto the string. If you hear a shrill sound, pat yourself on the back. You've just produced a harmonic.
Now, you want to do this faster, and in one motion. So these are the different ways (that I know of) of producing pinch harmonics. Remember, there is no 'right' way. You can do it in whatever way you find easiest, as long as you get the sound you want. If you know of any way that I haven't mentioned, please post about it.
- Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards.
- Hold your pick with the index and thumb, and have your middle-finger stick out right behind. Picking the string with an upstroke should produce a pinch harmonic. (I mostly use this method, since I have an unusual way of holding the pick, and I find this convenient).
- Place the side of your palm lightly over the point of harmonic resonance, and then pick the string. Or pick the string, and then lightly bring your palm down.
You should work on those for a while, stick to one that suits you best, or experiment with all of them, and after a bit of practice, you'll get it. For every note that you play, you'll get stronger harmonics in different areas, so its best to memorise where you want to produce a pinch-harmonic in your solos, and use the pickups as a guide-line. For example, you might want to pick right between the two coild on the neck pickup, or right above the first coil of the bridge pickup, whatever. In the end, it all comes down to practice.

there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

alright, I do these all the time. You choke up on the pick, having about a centimeter and hold it tight between your index and thumb and do a down stroke. It's easier. on lower and heavier guaged strings you need to hold on to the pick with alot more pressure.
To do them like Zakk Wylde it takes alot of vibrato and strength, which you obtain from practicing.

megadeth69 is a bit of an arse. He does not realise that the harmonics do not all sound at the same point - ie you have to move your right hand around. And since the distance between each note decreases as the note pitch increases - it will be very difficult to do a pinch harmonic on, say, the first string whilst fretting the 21st - you would have to pick very near the bridge. Not exactly the usual position. Silly moron. Also it's "you're" not "your". You're so retarded!!

good article, bro. i love the agony scene and the black dahlia murder, their songs are practically based on ph's. i had never even heard of your second method until i read this, and it actually works. thanx for the tip

I agree about Zakk Wylde being the "king of squeels". He is one of the few ballsy enough to squeel every fret of every string in every song...or close to it..
Pinch harmonics are fun, I use my thumb on easier strings (ie bottom 4) top two I use my thumb and palm.
Harp harmonics and natural harmonics are useful too, a lot of guys use a whammy bar and natural harmonics to make some of the longest squeels.
Most anyone playing rock needs to learn at least basic pinch harmonics, hell...they use them in nearly every song..
To re-answer the newbies questions, you can pull off a pinch harmonic on ANYTHING with strings...banjo, mandolin, acoustic, electric, bass, you name it...some just sound better than others..

Cool lesson, i also use my middle fingers on the high e and b strings, and im a lefty!
What are the chances I still cant do them on the bassy strings though.
Oh yeh and i hold the pick differently, probably why we both use our middle fingers.

STOP! shit on SlipknoT i am really pissed off!! Can somebody (someone) hlp! with pinch harmonics!? does anyone have any video or some shit about it? one more thing! U ***in noobs, god ***ers say something about slipknot i swer to ***ing good u will DIEE!! send all shit Heretic@globalnet.hr

*** u 6SIC6 u suck dick if u think slipknot is a good band there guitarists are shity and so are u u ***ing noob ass bitch! ill shit right in slipknots mouth! need a video, lol u must really suck if u cant learn it from hear NOOB!!

nice article, i was taught another way to do pinch harmonics though...much easier...you just place your index finger lightly on the string you'd like to play and pick it with your thumb's fingernail in an upwards motion, taking your index off as you pick. only slightly difficult part is getting the timing right...hope this helps someone out there...

i dont understand how the heck to do them
I have a Squire Strat with SC pickups and a 10 watt amp with a REALLY GOOD distortion pedal. Is this why I cant do anything? I can hear a sound but its not anything worth useing.

It helps a shit load to use thick little jazz guitar picks.....other than the article contained too much unuseful infofmatoin.
and randy roads is good at pinch harmonis, well was good since his deatth.
R.I.P. DIMEBAG DARREL & RANDY RHOADS

Megadeth you're a ***ing moron. Your calling people noobs over a god damn guitar, You must be what, 5 years old? Also you are saying no one cares about his panzy ass feelings, well i doubt no one gives a shit about what you have to say about the article, so *** off and grow up.

The lesson is ok, I tried to pull a harmonic with one of the methods mentioned, but there an easier way to do the harmonics. Just lightly place your left-hand index over the fret you want to play. For example if you want to pull a harmonic on the 7th fret, then you place your finger right before the 8th fret.

angelchilango20:
The lesson is ok, I tried to pull a harmonic with one of the methods mentioned, but there an easier way to do the harmonics. Just lightly place your left-hand index over the fret you want to play. For example if you want to pull a harmonic on the 7th fret, then you place your finger right before the 8th fret.

you dumbass, those are natural harmonics. pinch harmonics are artificial.
angelchilango20:
The lesson is ok, I tried to pull a harmonic with one of the methods mentioned, but there an easier way to do the harmonics. Just lightly place your left-hand index over the fret you want to play. For example if you want to pull a harmonic on the 7th fret, then you place your finger right before the 8th fret.
i want to f uck hilary duff and lindsay lohan up the pussy and suck their tits.

any way, what i wanted to say, was, that i reckon dimebag darrel of pantera, does the best pinch harmonics. it sometime even sounds like he does whole riffs with them. check out the riff under the solo in "the great southern trend kill", it sounds like everything picked is an artificial harmonic... but i'm not sure it might just be some wierd effect

wow...u really are a ***ing lozer,,,.... u prolly have no friends since ur sitting at ur computer in a ***ing message board just saying dimebag sux and u like it when guys suck ur dick.....thats ***ing grows i hope sumone shoots u

wow...thanks man, whoever wrote this article...i was gonna learn cowboys from hell, and there's a small part that required pinched harmonics (the bridge) i haven't tried it out, but the lesson makes perfect sense, good job

wow ive noticed quite a lot of ppl r rippin it out of slipknot. theyre quite good, i just love the effect of pinch harmonics nd the only song i can rele think of that uses them that i can play is duality

Pinches are pretty hard, I use the palm method. I just can't seem to do it any other way, maybe cause I have a wierd thumb, but w/e. I don't know if you guys know this, but duality is most definetly NOT the only ***ing song that has a ***ing pich harmonic in it, have any of you homo's ever listened to anything hard???.. How bout this, get your hands on a band called Arch Enemy, they're pretty sick, also, Chlidren of Bodom. If you like sick guitarists, go for Chlidren of Bodom. Both of these bands have great guitarists that use pinches.

slipknotrox09: is a proper cock, though pantera or damageplan are not may favourtie band you should stil appreciate dime as a master at pinch harmonics. slipknot however play such basic bollocks whilst there pathetic fans idolely stand around sucking cock. Lets not get drawn from the point, dime deserves respect for what he done for metal and so should'nt be mocked by faggots like slipknotrox09:

I couldn't be assed reading all the comments so I dunno if anyone mentioned this method, but here goes.
1) Find the note/fret you wanna make scream like a bitch.
2) Hold the fret down.
Easy so far?
3) This part involves experimenting. What you actually do is, put your' 3rd finger somewhere in between the pick, and the bridge (exactly where, will vary depending on the fret you're using). But all you need to do, is pick the string. As soon you pick, very quickly push down on the string with your' third finger, and release. Just move your' pick and 3rd finger around the string a bit and it'll only take a couple of seconds to find the point.
But yeah, they method works fine for me. It can be a bitch to do when you need to do a spontaneous pinch harmonic, but once you practice it a lot, you'll get used to it.

megadeth111:
wow...u really are a ***ing lozer,,,.... u prolly have no friends since ur sitting at ur computer in a ***ing message board just saying dimebag sux and u like it when guys suck ur dick.....thats ***ing grows i hope sumone shoots u

haha. look who's talking. you must have many friends to sit around here complaining about.. whatever you're complaining about.
by the way, if you want people to actually listen to what you say, you should consider learning how to spell, you ***ing hypocrite. all i hear from you is "blah blah i eat asses."

look, why dont u people just get some respect! Dimebag is...was good as is Zakk. Slipknot are also ok..if you arenot lookin 4 musical genius. and who ever said that their gitarist are shit, didnt it occur 2 you that they are actually quite famous? do you know why that is? its because they r good at what they do. ie. playin gitar. Any ways this website was ment 4 talkin about music and shit so y dont u actually do that? in stead of just talkin shit at eachother 4 no reason?
p.s. the leson thing was good...im still shit at it tho

***ing gay ok i can do pinch harmonics but for some weird reason it doesnt really scream out like in the song duality it sounds weak as ***...its either my amp or my guitar i dont know but its NOT COOL MAN...ok i have a peavey rage 158 shit and a bc rich brownze warlock and boss ds-1....i dont think there shud b a problem but it sounds weak ok..help any1?

Not bad of a lesson, you can also place your pick between your index finger and middle finger with your thumb placed just under the index. That way your thumb hits it on a down stroke and the middle finger hits it on an up stroke for quick up-down harmonic strumming.
By the way *******s who are flooding the article with shit, especially about Slipknot, why don't you go make a tab for duality or opium of the people? Since it's soo easy. I looked and there's just a bunch of tabs made of guesses, other than the guy who bought the official Slipknot music book. I wonder why... BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY.

my hatred for slipknot fans has risen another 233% it is really disgusting the way they act and the way they think that slipknot is a good band I really do not understand there are about a thousand bands better than them. and dimebag was a great man u must not have a life u gay slipknot fan!!!
HEAR ME SLIPKNOT IS THE WORST BAND IN THE FUCKING WORLD!!!.. EAT MY WORDS!!!..

Oh jesus mary and joeseph, when are you little idiots going to realise that everyone has a different opinion and you just have to accept it, your opinion is not always right, so dont treat it like it is, you all should respect and be inspired by the opinions of others, not criticise them.

no offence Spanner but seriously someone who enjoys paying out a dead person and critises a dead person really, really gets on my nerves im sure im not the only one who thinks this. and spanner what kind of opinion is 'dimebag darrel sucks cock he died caus god doesn't like queers!' what kind of opinion is that!?!?

Yes you do have a point, I was not talking about you personaly, but thats just an opinion, you know? If those little smelly rockers want to spell awfully and write an awful lot of crap that they have not a ccc..lll..uuu..eeee what they are on about, just let them be, unfortunatley we can not change them, good point though, sorry if you got the wrong impression

I would like to thank every person on here interested in learning pinch harmonics, and to thank them for using the comment board to voice their opinions in a reasonable manner. I like to tell every 12 year old pseudo metal lover who took the time to type " ur gay u n00b fayget" or "i raped yr mom!!!..1111!!!.." to die, slowly and painfully. Just becasue you are to weak and pussy assed to beat some kid in the playground up doesnt give you the right to talk that shit up where no one can get you. Eventually you will learn in life that there is karma, and your ass is toast. Thank you. The hounds will be released in five minutes.

i find that a method of lightly pressing on the string with a fret hand finger where you've found a harmonic, and quickly releasing the string after picking normally works, may not be as loud as other methods can be though

This was fairly helpful. Within about 5 seconds of trying with that thumb method, I found some harmonics I even found the one I was looking for (so I could get the squeel from "Whatever" by Our Lady Peace,[10th fret low E sting]). However, getting it to work consistantly is proving difficult lol. Oh well, I guess it takes practice lol.

i found this article helpfull thanks. now..all u *******s out there who say dime bag sucks,get a life u *******s he was a ***ing legend he could play the guitar like no other in my eyes. also zakk wylde is awsome and slpiknot are a great band ..how u think theyve made so much money !?!?! its becuase ppl buy there albums millions of ppl bought iowa i remember finding it hard to get a copy of that cos it was in such high demand. so get a life u ***ing asses and go *** urselves. \nn/ rock on ppl!!!.. Ps. i think a good solo to learn for harmonics is "floods" by pantera from the great southern trend kill album

back to the dime bag situation, i remember reading about how dime was at a concert once and him and slash get so drunk they could just about stand...anyways....they were both asked to play one of there fav solo's note for note and u no wat? slash couldnt do it cos hes ***ing shit !!!! dime played every note of the im broken solo he didnt miss a single ***ing note....so how can u say he sucks when he can play in that state.....i rest my case

megadeth69:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

A wise man once said you are a dick! He said there were several ways to do it andhe's right. There are a ton of people that don't know how to do this type of thing, and he gave them some alternative emthods

Good lesson wish i found it when i tried to learn, I stumbled across PH's when I made an odd squealing noise while messing about. Just to add another method, I found it easier to rest my 3rd finger's nail on the string behind the pick of my picking hand its not as muffling as skin so it might be easier for some people who are learning this technique. Its also useful cos your thumb can stay on the string as you find the sweet spots for PH's and also can stay on the string long enough to get the PH while you develop your accuracy.
And I might regret this but I'm not a fan of slipknot *However* if you check out the video lesson they did for Total Guitar (issue 126 if you're curious) it shows that Mick Thompson and Jim Root are talented guitarists and they do know their stuff, even if you don't like slipknot you have to admit it once you see it...

this is the lesson i have been looking for, i have been trying to pinch harmonics for a while now but still to no avail i have been trying all the techniques suggested so where am i going wrong.I just cant get that squeal from my guitar. Dont think its the equipment just me being crap. At least i know the jist and can now practice.

just out of intrest how much gain should be enough to get a decent sound?

As much as possible? I haven't really succeeded in the area of pinch harms but I notice that as you get more distortion, it becomes a hell lot easier to get a whole shit-load of sounds from your axe (not just in the area of harmonics).
On the other hand, I too have a query.. how would you adjust your amps to get a Steve Vai kind of sound? You know, those grungy distorted sounds, or sth like that...

WHOA!!! this is only an opinion, but if you want heavy, listen to Black Sabbath, not slipknot! The drummer is good, and the fans love them , but hasn't anyone noticed that fame does not often make good musicians. cough cough...slipknot...cough . OZZY ROCKS!

basically all you got to do is
put your thumb very close to the
tip of your plectrum leaving 1/2 cm
sticking out. You put your index
at the tip of the bottom of your plectrum
also leaving 1/2 cm sticking out. And
then all you do is pick upwards.

To all of you who can't spell properly: First of all you're morons, second of all most of the time your opinions are totally useless.
To the pinch harmonic tutorial: Pretty good, but it could use a few pictures or maybe a video.

Good lesson, might what to include a little section on improving techniques for speed getting to a pinch harmonic. Sometimes songs are too fast to fumble with a pick to reposition and pick the harmonics. Especially when you have a pinch harmonic right after alt-picking which i use in most my solos. Good work.

i use the thumb method most, i find it the most versatile.
But when i started learning them, i only did them on the high e, I did an upstroke, then hit the string with my index finger.
it works pretty well, make sure your guitar is on the treble setting, and if you have a wah pedal, put that on the treble too(forward)

Jonny B,
the best way, i think, to learn PH is to play a srting (7th fret on d sounds good) then slowly yet lightly touch it with the side of your thumb till you get the harmonic. keep practising this till it gets easy, then start doing it in one swift motion. i think its really easy.
byeee

oh man you should see me laughing my ass of here...half of you are like getting into a death match arguing over who gets to suck joey jordisons balls first...and the other half is trying to get laid and the rest of you are making fun of ppl who cant learn pinch harmonics...WHY THE HELL DID YOU EVEN CLICK "PINCH HARMONICS" in the lesson section if YOU didnt have trouble with them?? just stfu...immature bastards...in other news...im learning a song by coheed and cambria called welcome home and its got a few phs in it...it doesnt mainly consist of them but its a kickass accent added to it...just couldnt resist commenting cuz im having a hayday over here reading your all's comments

oh man ive been looking for lessons and crap on this forever and i finally got it...its really easy to do..hard to learn...i use the palm style it seems easiest to me i cant get a good sound out of the others...dude these are kickass...ive been playing these for hours lol...addicting...now i can play welcome home...ive been experimenting around with these a while..seems to be easy until you get up on like the high e string...cant get those as easily...does that just take time to learn or should i try a different method let me know...theres this hard line to do in welcome home with that in it...its like this: *=ph
|-----5*bp3p2-----6
*bp5p3-----
|-----
|---
--etc-----
|-333-----333
-----
|-333-----333-----
|-111-----111-----
h
ow do you bend and pulloff during a ph? when i try it gives me the harmonic at first then it sorta stays when i bend then when i pulloff its back to normal...help me out here

Very cool lesson, the other guy in my band showed me how to do a pinch harmonic but he's a douche and explained it about as well as a gutted sea bass could, this lesson really cleare dit up tho. Good work chief. If anyone manages to see a live Killswitch show (not that my name is bias or anything *shifty eyes*) check out adam d. and jo-el's pinch harmonic battle during my last serenade, funny shit, ps. dimebagg rox, mick thompson is a ****in legend, avenged sevenfold owns and killswitch is awesome. Peace out doodes

Very cool lesson, the other guy in my band showed me how to do a pinch harmonic but he's a douche and explained it about as well as a gutted sea bass could, this lesson really cleare dit up tho. Good work chief. If anyone manages to see a live Killswitch show (not that my name is bias or anything *shifty eyes*) check out adam d. and jo-el's pinch harmonic battle during my last serenade, funny shit, ps. dimebagg rox, mick thompson is a ****in legend, avenged sevenfold owns and killswitch is awesome. Peace out doodes

Wow finnally got to the bottom of the page through all the shit talking. It's funny though cuz you can't really compare Dimebag to Jim or Mick. They're styles are too different. Dime focuses on Technique such as PH's and shit and Jim and Mick are about the hard and fast. In my personal OPINION, Both Pantera and Slipknot are awesome bands. The lesson was very helpful also, now I can finish playing Cemetary Gates(who was that by... oh yeah, Pantera.) and Unholy Confessions from Avenged Sevenfold. \m/--\m/.

Numbered_Days wrote:
Very cool lesson, the other guy in my band showed me how to do a pinch harmonic but he's a douche and explained it about as well as a gutted sea bass could, this lesson really cleare dit up tho. Good work chief. If anyone manages to see a live Killswitch show (not that my name is bias or anything *shifty eyes*) check out adam d. and jo-el's pinch harmonic battle during my last serenade, funny shit, ps. dimebagg rox, mick thompson is a ****in legend, avenged sevenfold owns and killswitch is awesome. Peace out doodes

A7x is ok... they would be better if they had a better singer. their solos have these ****ed up sounds which is pretty neat but like i said they need a less whiney singer

avenged sevenfold likes to use these a lot, i just learned the songs unholy confessions and second heartbeat by them and they use a few in those, the way i do it is, put ur fret index finger by the fret ur gonna do it on, and hit as an open string and just as u hit the string put ur finger on it, and that's what works for me, if that makes ne sense to u guys, i tried all those other ways and it just didn't work for me, it's almost as just hitting the string and putting ur finger on it at the same time, later...

yeah ibanez has it right except u should bend the string while ur finger is on it. it makes it sound better. if ur having trouble pulling them off try turning up the treble/high frequenqies. it makes it a lot louder. if ur looking for a band that uses some simple pinch harmonics that sound sick check out bullet for my valentine. they kick ass

Remarkable Lesson, I foudn this very useful. Although The way I do my Pinch Harmonics are differently.
Since I hold my pick with three fingers (Index Middle and Thumb) I use my Ring finger for the Pinch Harmonic. The way I do that is I just place my Ring finger behind my Pick and well, you know the rest. I find it alot easier.

zakk_wylde_fan :
. slipknotrox09 has got to be the dumbest person dimebag sucks? hes a guitar god. slipknot has no talent what so ever. You probably couldnt learn one of dimebags songs

id like to see u be able to coordinatein a band with 9 members
and can people stop critisizing people about the bands they like just because they dont...wtf i wrong with u people can u guys just let the people who wanna post u questions and stuff just do it instead of bein an ass to em. fukin hell

megadeth111 you ass face! zakk_wylde_fan you too! you are critisizing slipknot because they shred 100 times better than you. listen to the "pulse of the maggots" solo, slipknot will and always will be better than you willl ever be.

someone said dime got loaded and drunk and slill played perfectly. i'd like to see him stoned and madly shredding while wearing a mask that almost blinds you and wearing 70 ponds of metal on you. Mick aslo solos on his knees and insanely headbangs. i'm not saying Dimesucks , but the 2 styles are completely different.

what the **** are all you talking about?who the **** cares what your opinion of dime and slipknot is?this forums about pinch harmonics.not your favorite/least favorite band.thank you to all the ppl talking about PHs.**** you to the rest.the article was pretty good so thanks to the author.

Maggot wrote:
someone said dime got loaded and drunk and slill played perfectly. i'd like to see him stoned and madly shredding while wearing a mask that almost blinds you and wearing 70 ponds of metal on you. Mick aslo solos on his knees and insanely headbangs. i'm not saying Dimesucks , but the 2 styles are completely different.

i dont like slipknot but he is right dime was more old school and slip is more poser shit (huzzah we think we r cool becasuse we wear masks and metal) but u cant say that dime couldnt play stoned beacause he was stoned all the time (hence the "dimebag" monikker)

cobhc, you are a ****!ng idiot. i wanna see YOU play like mick and james. why would you say they are posers? they actually play the music dont they? just cuz you dont like their music it doesnt mean they suck. untill you can play as well as slipknot can go suck a d!ck and stop talking sh!t.

metal machine wrote:
cobhc, you are a ****!ng idiot. i wanna see YOU play like mick and james. why would you say they are posers? they actually play the music dont they? just cuz you dont like their music it doesnt mean they suck. untill you can play as well as slipknot can go suck a d!ck and stop talking sh!t.

AREAofREFUGE wrote:
Pinches are pretty hard, I use the palm method. I just can't seem to do it any other way, maybe cause I have a wierd thumb, but w/e. I don't know if you guys know this, but duality is most definetly NOT the only ***ing song that has a ***ing pich harmonic in it, have any of you homo's ever listened to anything hard???.. How bout this, get your hands on a band called Arch Enemy, they're pretty sick, also, Chlidren of Bodom. If you like sick guitarists, go for Chlidren of Bodom. Both of these bands have great guitarists that use pinches.[/quote]
ummmm btw u spelt chILDren of bodom wrong twice.... i cant help but laugh.... and COB rule fukin everything

to the ppl hu like a7x, i played unholy confessions with my mates and got a mosh pit! it gave u the biggest adrenaline rush ever!!! and a7x shouldnt get a new singer, just another--- for screaming so they have one for melodic n one for screaming. CoB rule

danissupercool wrote:
to the ppl hu like a7x, i played unholy confessions with my mates and got a mosh pit! it gave u the biggest adrenaline rush ever!!! and a7x shouldnt get a new singer, just another--- for screaming so they have one for melodic n one for screaming. CoB rule

i suppose, that would sound kinda kool, kinda like trivium or some shit.....

Totally sweet. I actually learned how to do this technique from your site. Only been playing for a few months, and I'd been really wondering. But now I know, and I can't stop the sound. Thank you so much for your simple, yet effective, lesson.

[.Malice.] wrote:
Totally sweet. I actually learned how to do this technique from your site. Only been playing for a few months, and I'd been really wondering. But now I know, and I can't stop the sound. Thank you so much for your simple, yet effective, lesson.

i found that when i started learning a lot of lamb of god's songs i got waaaaay better at guitar,but if uve only been playing for a few months just wait a bit

Close-mindes *****s. I'm glad to know, being a soldier, that I'm defending america for shit like this. Of course, people's ego doesn't get much further than up their ass. I don't mind slipknot, punk, or any kind of music. Go ahead, diss some genre and say that it isnt better than the others. But I know that for every 1000 of you little whiny ****ers, there is only one mick thompson. Get your heads out of your asses and write your own ****in lesson if you're not happy with this one.

[quote]John Biscuit wrote:
By the way *****s who are flooding the article with shit, especially about Slipknot, why don't you go make a tab for duality or opium of the people? Since it's soo easy. I looked and there's just a bunch of tabs made of guesses, other than the guy who bought the official Slipknot music book. I wonder why... BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY.[/quo
john biscuits right. i mean slipknot rok harder than most of the pussy bands the rest of you ****bags listen, except if you listen to (mudvayne, killswitch engage, and others like these)
btw i still can't do pinch harmonics. can anyone hlp please.

although slipknot isn't awesome, considering how many people are in the band and how great the music comes out...that solo on Pulse of the Maggots was pretty cool. they don't suck
i use tiny dunlop stubby picks so there's really little space from the edge of my thumb to the tip of the pick. that way, i can just kinda muscle through it and forget that the pick is even there

A while back when someone said "thanks i can finally do duality" then someone said "thats easy you pussy" he meant he can play it because now he can do pinch harmonics, the song is easy, the hardest part is probably the fast picking part, but if you cant do pinch harmonics you cant play the song, understand what people are saying before you call them shit you cock, BTWgreat lesson :p

I hate how people act like two year olds on this forum. Some guy likes Slipknot or Dimebag Darrell and one guy doesn't there is no reason to argue about it. Personally I think most metal guitarists suck people get way too obsessed with them but for a realy good guitarists to try to play after you get Artificial Harmonics down in Herman Li from Dragonforce. But I don't believe the lesson was as good as it could be. You explained how to do it but I think the science behind it is also good to know. But anyways. QUIT YOUR BITCHING.

slipnotrox is dumbest piece of shit ever to walk the earth, assuming he can walk with his hands down his pants. Dimebag was and is a legend you dipshit non-conformist conformist, and once you become secure enough to understand that, maybe you will be able to play more than duality

I play alot of Zakk Wylde and i had a way of doing my harmonics by putting my pinky nail over the strongest pick-up and it gave a pinch harmonic squeal your way with the thumb is much easier thank you.

i get the mall the time by accident but i find it hard to do them when i want to. good lesson. by the way for all those slipknot idiots: go listen to real metal and not nu-metal. slipknot is merely a metal wannabe band that just cant cut the mustard. you want kick ass shit give tristania a go, or maybe draconian, or how about we see slipknot try some cradle of filth? or maybe they just dont have the fingers to do it let alone the dicks. and before you start any shit i tell you all that i am a noob and i can hardly play anything serious on the guitar but i bet you were just as crap as me when you started crap heads.

I Read this Lesson About 6 months ago but now can Hit them Perfect Every Time Just Practise Picking Hand More They Are Hard To Do on Thinner strins B and E i First startedon the 16th fret With strong Bends on the D String
By The Way f.Sardis If Your a noob Maybe You Shouldnt Rag On Musicians Better Then You! nobody will ever know who tristania are in like a Year You loser

i am from argentina, so i dont understand a shit...
could someone translate it to spanish, so i could understand it?...i want to learn them, but in all the places that i look, it`s in english
i give you my e-mail...
fedex44@hotmail.com.ar
thanks to the one who would help me!!
-FedeX-

could someone translate it in spanish, please?
i am from argentina, and i dont understand it..
i tried to look for in other places, but i cant find it...i want to know how to do the pinch harmonics...
PLEASE, HELP!!
E-MAIL ME, PLEASE
FEDEX44@HOTMAIL.COM.AR

vit4l.remains wrote:
hmmm too bad slipknot sux ass. they have to b mabe one of the worst bands out there. they aren't metal. joey jordinson is terrible at drums. listen to sumthing better or you will be shot to.

dude dont say shit about joey he is the best member in the band but yea dimebag and zakk wylde are the 2 masters of pinch harmonix

sometimes its ezr to use a overdrive pedal when u use this technique this how i do it i for exaple i like using 3rd fret 3rd string then as soon as u hit the harmonic slammmmm that pedal with your foot and you get a mad screaching not peace out

i can sort of do it but some of it is just f*cking hard.
but i figured out while attempting to learn these for a short amount of time when i first started playing that you can do pinches super easy on the third fret.
you just do the same thing you do when making a natural harmonic and then bend.
same goes for the sixth fret but that's all i think

Ya I sorta just learned it. I kinda had to cuz I was in a hardcore band at the time, and I was about to be kicked out, haha. I think giving it a good dose of vibrato after seems to help. Or like a bend.

Great article. It really helped. Whether some of you like slipknot or not, they are great musicians. Dimebag was also one of the greatest guitar players ever. If you guys don't appreciate musicians for there talents then you have no business playing music at all. There are lots of bands that I don't like, but I still respect them for there musicianship. I can't believe some of the comments on here. If you think you can write a better lesson, then do so. Don't cut down this guy because he wants to help people out. At least he took the time to do this.

I'm not reading all these comments...
I found a tip that works for me.
If you fret the 7th fret pick the harmonic at the 17th fret.
If you fret the 5th fretpick the harmonic at the 15th fret and so on.
It's more likely to get the right pinch harmonic sound and not just a normal note.

Josu wrote:
angelchilango20:
The lesson is ok, I tried to pull a harmonic with one of the methods mentioned, but there an easier way to do the harmonics. Just lightly place your left-hand index over the fret you want to play. For example if you want to pull a harmonic on the 7th fret, then you place your finger right before the 8th fret.
you dumbass, those are natural harmonics. pinch harmonics are artificial.
angelchilango20:
The lesson is ok, I tried to pull a harmonic with one of the methods mentioned, but there an easier way to do the harmonics. Just lightly place your left-hand index over the fret you want to play. For example if you want to pull a harmonic on the 7th fret, then you place your finger right before the 8th fret.
i want to f uck hilary duff and lindsay lohan up the pussy and suck their tits.

Yeah, a7x does, I did learn dat song too, except for the pinch harmonic, this lesson is helpful.

ibanez_rg270 wrote:
avenged sevenfold likes to use these a lot, i just learned the songs unholy confessions and second heartbeat by them and they use a few in those, the way i do it is, put ur fret index finger by the fret ur gonna do it on, and hit as an open string and just as u hit the string put ur finger on it, and that's what works for me, if that makes ne sense to u guys, i tried all those other ways and it just didn't work for me, it's almost as just hitting the string and putting ur finger on it at the same time, later...

awww i have a another way of doing them, but thats mainly because i hold my pick like an utter spack, basically the way i hold my pick is inbetween the pad of my thumb and the pads of my index and middle finger, you then tuck your ring finger in next to them so it sticks slighty out and let the nail/cuticle brush the string on a downstoke, means you can go from tremelo picking to a harmonic really fast, if you want to sound like killswitch you have to load it with a **** lot of wide, fast vibrato. but that's probably complety useless because i'm the only person i know to hold my pick like that.

This is how i make pinch harmonics.
Ok, i put my fretting index finger on the 8th fret of the 'D' string, then get my little finger, and slightly touch the 12th fret. then i pick the string, quickly lift my little finger off and i make a screech. you can do this on all of the strings, at any part of the neck as well, but that part of the neck works quite well

zakk_wylde_fan wrote:
. slipknotrox09 has got to be the dumbest person dimebag sucks? hes a guitar god. slipknot has no talent what so ever. You probably couldnt learn one
of dimebags songs.

You are all so cool, because the guys name is Slipknotrox, and you don't like him, and your ALL SO SMART. Slipknotrox+don't like him= Hate Slipknot.
I'm sorry you get an F. You probaby have never even listen to Slipknot.
"You probably couldnt learn one
of dimebags songs"
If you really respected him, you would of spelled his with a capital and used proper grammer.
Your just a poser like all you other people freaking out about Slipknotrox and are following mainstream.
I don't care if Dimebag was good, I have no intrested listening to his music, I'd rather listen to Jimi Hendrix or anybody else.
Besides, Jimi and tons of other people are way better.

Yeah I still can't pull one of these mothers off quite right...
I can do like, a real lame, quiet version; but not a real squeal.
I've tried the stuff in this lesson, and a few of the things put in individual comments, but no luck.
Anyone got any tips?

I have a Squire Strat with SC pickups and a 10 watt amp with a REALLY GOOD distortion pedal.

This is possibly the funniest thing I've read through this whole list of comments.
In all honesty, stop arguing about Slipknot. Everyone has a differen't opinion about them, but it's not worth arguing over the internet about.
The article was great if you're just learning. I knew how already, I was only looking for an easier way. Apparently there isn't. =(

I pick up instead of down on the single notes which is wierd but it did help me learn alternate picking a lot faster and since I downstoke when I hit more then 1 sting at the same time...I found that it was a lot easier for me. But when i do pinch harmonics, I pick upward and use the pick and my index finger to do it and almost every time I get the perfect ring. May not work 4 you but it does for me. lol

fender_satin wrote:
basically all you got to do is
put your thumb very close to the
tip of your plectrum leaving 1/2 cm
sticking out. You put your index
at the tip of the bottom of your plectrum
also leaving 1/2 cm sticking out. And
then all you do is pick upwards.

Sometimes I had trouble because the pick and my finger touched the string too close together (in time), so I twist my wrist so that my thumb tip is directly behind the pick when I stroke downwards. And doing this its still easy to chuck in a harmonic quickly between other notes, unlike some other methods.
And the main heavy riff from pantera's cemetary gates is a well known and straightforward one to practise on.
If you don't want to talk about pinch harmonics then why write here? To sound tough? Dickheads.

megadeth69 wrote:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

listen mate ive been tryin to learn these for months and finally after reading this article im getting a hold of them if he had just said that i wouldnt be able to do them so shut it!!!

you know how you mentioned finding the spot on the string that produced the best soud or w/e i forgot ive been reading through the comments like a moron lol well my advise is that its always 12 half steps away from the fretted note (example: if your finger was on the 3rd fret youd produce the harmonic on the 15th fret) so i guess that explains the whole 1 octave up thing cause 12 frets is one octave

Maggot66 :
zakk_wylde_fan wrote:
. slipknotrox09 has got to be the dumbest person dimebag sucks? hes a guitar god. slipknot has no talent what so ever. You probably couldnt learn one
of dimebags songs.
You are all so cool, because the guys name is Slipknotrox, and you don't like him, and your ALL SO SMART. Slipknotrox+don't like him= Hate Slipknot.
I'm sorry you get an F. You probaby have never even listen to Slipknot.
"You probably couldnt learn one
of dimebags songs"
If you really respected him, you would of spelled his with a capital and used proper grammer.
Your just a poser like all you other people freaking out about Slipknotrox and are following mainstream.
I don't care if Dimebag was good, I have no intrested listening to his music, I'd rather listen to Jimi Hendrix or anybody else.
Besides, Jimi and tons of other people are way better.

Jimi sux, dime is his father, you better listen to him in solos like cemetary gates or walk or any song and stop listening to voodoo shit and shity lady and that

i finally figured this out! Ive been playing for years and couldnt quite get it. For me, I turn the gain up, i hold the pick between my middle finger and thumb and i strike any ****in note i want, right after the string hits try an lightly touch the string with your pointer finger if your holding the pick between your middle and thumb, and youll hear the harmonic, after it sounds do a bend or vibrato and youll get a wicked squeal, the harder u push down on the bend or vibraeto the more it sounds, also i noticed that it sounds like a different pitch depending on wheere u mute the string with your strummin finger, right between humbuckers sounds most wicked on my les paul.

johnnywinter wrote:
megadeth69 is a bit of an arse. He does not realise that the harmonics do not all sound at the same point - ie you have to move your right hand around. And since the distance between each note decreases as the note pitch increases - it will be very difficult to do a pinch harmonic on, say, the first string whilst fretting the 21st - you would have to pick very near the bridge. Not exactly the usual position. Silly moron. Also it's "you're" not "your". You're so retarded!!

wow this lesson helped me a lot. i could never really do pinch harmonics that well. after i read this ive been doing pinch harmonics for hours. this lesson helps alot if ur learning to play welcome home by coheed and cambria because there are alot of pinch harmonics in it.

im right handed and i use my left hand to do harmonics. its the same principal, you play a string then gently touch it with one of your fingers. id say its easier considering the fact your fingers would already be over the fret board.

metalhead2061 wrote:
I just found something out. If you get your fingers right for the firts technique, your index finger sets off the harmonic on an upstroke.

That's how you develope alternate pinch harmonics. If anything, they're move of a "look what I can do" technique. They aren't very useful in a song. Harmonics are supposed to ring out anyways. You can't do that with alternate pinch harmonics.

If you use the thumb technique it massively matters where you place it in relation to the note you fret. Natural harmonics occur over the 5th 7th an 12th frets which is half way, a third of the way and a quarter of the way along the string from either end. The same must be done for artificial harmonics, pinch with the thumb either half way, a third of the way or a quarter of the way between the fretted note ant the bridge.

Thanks very much man, I've been searching google for the last hour looking for guides, and your lessons really did it.. billytalent, just try the technique mentioned above and you will understand it all, simply put your middle finger behind the pick (use a pick first to understand how it works) and stick it out a little, and do an upstroke at a fret producing a natural harmonic; 5th, 7th and 12th frets. It's pretty easy, took me like one minute to understand how it works.

- Hold your pick with the index and thumb, and have your middle-finger stick out right behind. Picking the string with an upstroke should produce a pinch harmonic. (I mostly use this method, since I have an unusual way of holding the pick, and I find this convenient).
Dude, you'll get way better results from a downstroke lol

what i like to do is pick the string and at the same time use my middle finger's nail to slightly touch the string. you can change the sound of the harmonic by moving your finger to different positions between the pick ups. i have never tried it with a single coil pick up like on a telecaster but it works great with my les paul. the only problem is that sometimes you can put your finger between the wrong strings if going for a PH on 5th, 4th, 3rd, etc string. but once you get the feel of it it works amazingly.

Good lesson. but you did not mention that you produce diffrent PHs depending on where you pick. If you pick 12 frets over the fretted fret, you get a note one octave higher. if you pick 19 frets over you get an octave and a fifte. and if you pick 24 frets over you get a note 2 octaves higher then the original fret. Guese you could also pick 31 frets over to get 2 octaves and a fifte, but this would be pretty hard to pull of. So its not just random spots to pick to get the harmonic. You got to imagine the frets going on up over the pickups as they get smaller and smaller and pick at the right place. Dont know if anyone allready said this, but anyways. felt i had to say something.

i've been through tons of other articles and videos trying to learn harmonics, but this one helped the most. i generally play classic rock but every now and then i like to crank it up to 11 and jam to some lamb of god or megadeth. thanks dude.

Wow. This lesson sucks. Natural harmonics get a different resonance from different places, while pinch harmonics, being artificial, can be done ANYWHERE to the same effect, whether it's your first fret, sixth string, or 24th fret, 1st string, its all the same.

I found another way, but it takes alot of distortion. What you gotta do is pretend that you are doing a natural harmonic, then pick it. Right after you pick the string, then press down on the fret. It works most of the time.

i love how all the f**king hypocritical wankers say a bunch of shit like in 2004, and then people come and retaliate to that shit about 3 whole f**king years later. jesus.
great lesson by the way. all the ppl like JMTrio134 can...no, i won't say that.

megadeth69 wrote:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

Yes man you're right but you should have said that in a nicer way, don't you think?

JMTrio134 wrote:
Wow. This lesson sucks. Natural harmonics get a different resonance from different places, while pinch harmonics, being artificial, can be done ANYWHERE to the same effect, whether it's your first fret, sixth string, or 24th fret, 1st string, its all the same.

I found my own method: hold the pick between your thumb and index fingers, and as you pick the string, come back with your ring finger in the opposite direction and lightly hit touch the string. It works pretty well for me

WOW lots of post...ok out of these three the palm one is efficient for fast solos and then normal notes after cuz if you stick a finger out well eventually it just gets in the way...my way is actually scooping. Its like picking and then putting your finger down, but more fluent. its like you flick your wrist almost, but not so hard that it slows you down. Smaller picks make them easier like jazz III's cuz there is more flesh showing. its easier said than done and ounce you get the technique it will make more sense. As far as vids check out you tube they kinda help. This is more trial and error tho so keep at it...

There is another way that i learn to do this, when striking a note on the low e-string press the string between the 2 last things in the body of the guitar. I forgot what they are called but this gives this harmonic a stronger tone. Unfotunatly, this only works for the low e-string

No matter how much I try, no matter what I do, I can't pull them off. I might get lucky and get one, but that's it. I hate this so much..
Good lesson though, I'm trying to learn as much as possible on this.

Ok, i gave up reading everthing bout 1/4 of the way thru, so i have another method, seems to be the original-place a thumb lightly on top of the string and your pick under it, and then you pivot the pick around the thum, so you're actually pinching the string. then take the whole thing off-it seems to be more dependant then the whole business about sticking your thumb out and picking it normally, i only get a harmonic once in 10 times then to be honest, the other times im jus PMing it. I saw steve vai do it in concert this way, so if its good enuff for him, guess its good enuff for me.

heretic7 wrote:
What I don't get is why on guitar pro they have pinch harmonics and artificial harmonics and they make different sounds, I always thought they were the same thing

A.H.s are done by adding 12 frets to the note you have fretted and tapping that fret-the principle is that the 1st natural harmonic and the easiest is on the 12th fret and it sounds exactly the same as a 12 fret when fretted and picked (cause its a 1 octave harmonic), so not the same as a pinched harmonic, which is a natural harmonic, just done using an unusual technique

Whoah! read the third comment from the top it says the he uses this method for the NEW slipknot song duality! what! that comment is really old. wow i remember when i first heard duality man aww i miss those days

lol, if your not getting it "Kurikaiku" then u just need to practice change ur choke on the pinch, try adding more gain or distortion, try doing it with a bend (might make it easier), and PRACTICE!!!
Also, i feel that this is one of the techs that is easier learned by showing not writing. Same with taps and sweeping. A teacher = Fastest way to learn ANYTHING, but good lesson dude (use #1 + #2 if the song has a lot of fast pinches )
****1/2

damn_punks wrote:
alright, I do these all the time. You choke up on the pick, having about a centimeter and hold it tight between your index and thumb and do a down stroke. It's easier. on lower and heavier guaged strings you need to hold on to the pick with alot more pressure.
To do them like Zakk Wylde it takes alot of vibrato and strength, which you obtain from practicing.

what did that have anything to do with? anyways good lesson, i only have an acoustic right now but I'm getting an electric for my birthday, anyways i tried it with an acoustic and it works, but it's a very faint sound, but yeah good lesson, helped me out a lot, i'm left handed too so it's good to see other lefties =D

Idiots_inc wrote:
nice article, i use the second method you mention. Use it mainly for the new slipknot song duality.

lol thats exactly why i learned how to do pinch harmonics
good lesson.....i used to use the middle finger method cuz i have a wierd way of holding the pick (index thumb and middle finger) but ive moved on to just the thumb =D!!

johnnywinter wrote:
megadeth69 is a bit of an arse. He does not realise that the harmonics do not all sound at the same point - ie you have to move your right hand around. And since the distance between each note decreases as the note pitch increases - it will be very difficult to do a pinch harmonic on, say, the first string whilst fretting the 21st - you would have to pick very near the bridge. Not exactly the usual position. Silly moron. Also it's "you're" not "your". You're so retarded!!

Good point, I just wrote an article about this, hopefully itll be up by the weekend so yous can see it.

ashley1415 wrote:
Whoah! read the third comment from the top it says the he uses this method for the NEW slipknot song duality! what! that comment is really old. wow i remember when i first heard duality man aww i miss those days

@slipknot
you press down on the fret
I find the 1st technique the easiest, just pick it and try hitting the string with your thumb after you pick it but hit it with your thumb really light so you wont deaden the string/sound...
There are a lot of videos on youtube about this lesson

This one helped me a lot , it was well explained and demonstrated...
Try practicing it on the 1st to the 3rd string, it's much easier doing it there than on the bass strings, max out your treble/gain/distortion, switch to your bridge pick up to make it easier...There are specific spots for each string where the harmonic is loud, try experimenting when you learned it, there are spots where the harmonic produces a real high note...
You can even do it with out a pick once you master it
Goodluck

Dude shut the **** up nobody needs any of tour input, he was only trying to explain something complicated and make it easy to understand and i reckon he did a great job

megadeth69 wrote:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

If people are just gonna slag each other off then don't do it on a post by someone who wants to help the beginners who have probably not been playing too long (i've only been playing a couple of months and this really help thanks m8). Go slag each other off in a place where people actually care, not somewhere people actually wanna read other peoples comments and see if there is any extra techniques or advice on techniques. So **** off and let the decent people do what they came here to do.
Naming no names, 6sic6; megadeth69; damn_punks; megadeth111; slipnotrox09 and shredmaster2013. Just to discrace you.

wooohooo!nice i understood
wait ,i have a question...
what's humbucks and SC?
is humbucks the pick-ups used in a Les Paul???
and is SC means single coil in a strat??
well if thats what it is,what's the difference???huh..

can i just clarify something, is the harmonic coming from the other strings as you pull one? because i am really confused, oh and all of you people who say 'you only needed " touch the string wiht your thumb"', i wouldnt have gotten that, i am self taught from only UG lessons. so i always trust these things

Your a dik he gave advice so people now know how to do pinch harmonics

megadeth69 wrote:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

Why Do You People Have To Get The Shits With Eachother? Its Music, People Have Different Tastes, So What? I Think Some Of You People Need To Grow A Brain And Grow Up.
PS. Thanks For The Lesson, It Really Helped

I still have trouble doing this. I have a crappy Fender I've had for 3 years, and i really want a flying V or explorer haha, something more metal with blackouts like mick(#7) but seriously i am so confused i can never hit it light enough to not kill the sound, is there an easier way?? and whats the difference between a natural harmonic and artificial? (how to you create said harmonics i mean) ?

I sometimes hold the pick to where my picking hand index finger goes down one edge of the pick. I pick the string along the other edge, and my index comes into contact with the string, and voila! pinch harmonic. A little cumbersome to go from normal picking position to this, but it hasn't failed yet!

megadeth69 wrote:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

actualy i agree, pinch harmonics really are simple. thats all i was told when i was learning, and i leared it prefectly in no time.

to be honest im finding it difficult doing any pinch harmonics between the 2nd - 5th string cause the other stings are in the way, but on the bottom string i use my index finger when on the top string i use the thumb technique
but hey, ive only been playing for 6 months
and those who want a good song to practice their pinch harmonics i recomend hyperdrive by devin townsend

What I do to get pinch harmonics if this is right, I put the pick on the side of my index finger and sort of like, do a bass kinda thing when they pull the strings back. I don't know if that makes any sence. I will have to practice more on pinch harmonics. And DO NOT correct my spelling, thats really annoying and I know there might have been a typo in this so get over it.

Numbered_Days wrote:
Very cool lesson, the other guy in my band showed me how to do a pinch harmonic but he's a douche and explained it about as well as a gutted sea bass could, this lesson really cleare dit up tho. Good work chief. If anyone manages to see a live Killswitch show (not that my name is bias or anything *shifty eyes*) check out adam d. and jo-el's pinch harmonic battle during my last serenade, funny shit, ps. dimebagg rox, mick thompson is a ****in legend, avenged sevenfold owns and killswitch is awesome. Peace out doodes

Numbered_Days wrote:
Very cool lesson, the other guy in my band showed me how to do a pinch harmonic but he's a douche and explained it about as well as a gutted sea bass could, this lesson really cleare dit up tho. Good work chief. If anyone manages to see a live Killswitch show (not that my name is bias or anything *shifty eyes*) check out adam d. and jo-el's pinch harmonic battle during my last serenade, funny shit, ps. dimebagg rox, mick thompson is a ****in legend, avenged sevenfold owns and killswitch is awesome. Peace out doodes

Wow well he may have 2 pages of "crap" but your whole face is made of it

megadeth69 wrote:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

megadeth111 wrote:
*** u 6SIC6 u suck dick if u think slipknot is a good band there guitarists are shity and so are u u ***ing noob ass bitch! ill shit right in slipknots mouth! need a video, lol u must really suck if u cant learn it from hear NOOB!!

Dude quit it with the lame come backs. Megadeth has a point. And why the hell is your name techno when you're on a site based on heavy metal and alternative?

tekkno27 wrote:
Wow well he may have 2 pages of "crap" but your whole face is made of it
megadeth69 wrote:
there's like 2 whole pages of crap, all you needed to say was "Hold your pick with the thumb protruding slightly from the side, and pick the string, so the pick hits it, and your thumb then hits it immediately afterwards." and no more your so retarded!!

i can get the first 3 strings good, e b g. but its very effective on d, not so much on a, and not at all on my top e. do i need more practice? or does the pick suppose to get gradually smaller as i go to lower notes?

Completely agree w/ the last few comments. Stop arguing about bands, trolling, and being little Bitches. The whole "your a noob!lololol" junk is retarded. B/c NO ONE could play the first time they picked up a guitar. Not hendrix not SRV not wylde. AND SURE AS HELL NOT YOU OR ME. If you have nothing good to say, then don't say A DAMN WORD.

I hate I never read this article before now, which threw me WAY down at the bottom, but there is another technique that i havens seen from anyone else on the internet period, so it needs to be better broadcasted. If you use your thumb, index, and bird finger whilst picking, you can catch the string between the pick, and your bird finger, and pull-off in kinda a whip motion, it will squeal, and you will have performed a harmonic if done correctly. the best thing about it is, it works on a down or upstroke.

Another thing BTW, why are so many of you fussing about the noobs? Something brought you to this page, but according to you trolls, these are EASY and whomever had to read about it should rollover and die, despite everyone whom commented has read the article? Beyond comprehension to me.

There is another method that I found easiest when first trying to do a pinch harmonic. A little bit difficult to explain in words, but I'll attempt it. hold the pick very close to the tip so the tip of your thumb sticks out past the edge of the pick creating an angle between the tip of the pick and the tip of the thumb. Instead of picking the string with the flat part of the pick and immediately touching it with the back part of the thumb you are going to place the string in the angle between the tip of the pick and the tip of your thumb so both the pick and the thumb are touching at the same time. Now, pick the string not with the flat part of the pick, but use the skinny edge of it like it was a knife blade and slice across it using the edge not the flat side. Your thumb is already touching so it should produce the harmonic immediately as long as you have found a possition on the string where one can be produced.